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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. rest — what's left
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. plane — a tool
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. rest — what's left
  10. wake — a trail
  11. lie — to recline
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. prune — to trim
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. prune — to trim
  22. rest — a break
  23. foot — a measure
  24. foot — part of the body

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com